About Me
Hi, I Am Chef Jose Duque
I’ve been a professional chef for over 20 years. But long before that, I knew I wanted to do something creative with my life. I was born in Venezuela and came to the U.S. as a young man full of dreams and a drive to make them come to fruition. As many immigrants do, I landed in the food industry, bussing tables as I learned English. I eventually became a waiter and got my first exposure to fine dining at the famous Delano Hotel in Miami Beach. I was in awe of the creative flair of the chefs as they prepared masterpiece-level buffet spreads that were beautifully designed, and knew I had found my calling. A friend of mine worked in the kitchen so I asked him to teach me to cook something…my first-ever cooking experience was a simple plate of pasta!
I’ve come a long way since then. I eventually learned enough to start working in the kitchen as a line cook, and later received a degree in Culinary Arts. Learning the basics in technique and skill allowed my natural creativity to flourish as my career grew, and I worked in a variety of restaurants and country clubs in Miami and the San Francisco Bay Area. I realized that the best place to take advantage of my artistic side was as a banquet chef, where I can prepare elaborate dishes and buffets with beauty and flair. I also love the challenge of having a new menu every day. I never follow recipes and prefer to add my own personal style to each dish.
People often ask me what my specialty is, and it’s a hard question to answer. Rather than stick to a particular type of food, I focus on eclectic combinations and layers of flavors and textures as well as the presentation. Even when I cook “typical” dishes I like to add my own flair. (Passion fruit couscous mousse for dessert, anyone?)
More recently, I started learning food photography and video production. Capturing the details of a meticulously prepared dish or buffet setting with the best lighting, placement, and details is a natural extension of my love of cooking and a fun creative outlet. From a business perspective, I enjoy being able to do my own photos and videos, as I feel that no one can see and understand the minute details of my work as well as I can. It’s an added benefit to offer my customers, and who knows where it will take me in the years to come! Stay tuned…